On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan personally inspected the damage left behind after Monday's devastating twin earthquakes. In heaps of rubble where once homes and lives were destroyed, the president surveyed what remained of the victims' despair. This sense of loss is all too familiar for many, and with the admirable human tenacity in rescue, relief and rebuilding efforts, it is reflected in the response of local NGOs and civil society groups.

Unfortunately, Erdogan's paranoia and mistrust for NGOs in the past have significantly weakened the institutions that his country now needs in the wake of the disaster. Though their role is essential in any natural disaster situation, providing food, medical assistance, overseeing governmental aid assistance and guarding against corruption and wrongdoings, the President's hostility makes it difficult, if not impossible, for the organizations to receive proper funding or resource allocations.

Erdogan must understand that though the safety and security of